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AFWERX

Latest AFWERX News

About AFWERX (RG)

As the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force and powered by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), AFWERX brings cutting edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF.
 
The four core arms of AFWERX - AFVentures, Spark, Prime and SpaceWERX - serve to expand the defense industrial base for advanced technologies, empower Airmen and Guardian talent, and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. 
 
AFWERX  teams internationally across academia, industry and government to develop technology, expand talent and transition dual-use capabilities. 

Mission: AFWERX accelerates agile and affordable capability transitions by teaming leaders in innovative technology with Airman and Guardian talent. 

Mantra: Unleashing American Ingenuity 

Vision: Forge an innovation ecosystem that delivers disruptive Air & Space capabilities. 

 

Learn more about AFWERX and our mission by CLICKING HERE.

AFRL/AFWERX Leadership

Links

               
    

Inside AFWERX

AFWERX is a network of people who want to help create a better Air Force and Space Force for all Airmen and Guardians. There are innovators who work for AFWERX full-time, others who take on passion projects outside of their traditional jobs and tap into the AFWERX ecosystem for support, and plenty more who collaborate with us as part of their position at Air Force bases around the world.

ANNUAL REPORT

Organizationally, AFWERX has three primary efforts: AFVentures, Spark, and Prime.

  • Commercial Technology Industrial Base: The first, AFVentures, is all about tapping both U.S. and global tech ecosystems, using military problems to accelerate commercial technologies. AFVentures leverages commercial technology to deliver better capabilities to the warfighter. We are transforming the Air and Space Force into an early-stage “investor” that leverages private capital, accelerates commercialization using military missions, and grows the number of companies partnering with us.
  • Empowered and Innovative Airmen Talent: The second division, Spark, is all about empowering innovation at the operational edge. Spark connects amazing Airmen and Guardians to commercial innovators using virtual collaboration, immersive training, and networking opportunities that inspire ideas and cultivate a creative Force. By connecting operators closer to acquisition, Spark provides both a voice and conduit to turn powerful ideas into powerful operational realities.
  • ​Accelerated Capability Through Transitions: The third division, Prime, is all about priming and accelerating emerging commercial markets using military missions and equities. Prime focuses on bringing military interests that accelerate nascent technologies within the commercial market, benefiting commercial industrial base and military capability. In addition to funding, Prime programs will leverage other unique Department resources, like test infrastructure, certification authorities, interagency relationships, and early operational use cases, bringing the Air and Space Force’s full value proposition to bear by becoming an early adopter to de-risk emerging markets.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

AFWERX combines startup urgency with the largest pool of motivated talent in the world to uncover opportunities to improve Air and Space Force capabilities, connect and engage the right stakeholders, and facilitate outcomes.

AFWERX Fellowship Program

  • Unique opportunity for Air Force and Space Force members to gain insight into AFWERX capabilities, help shape the Air Force’s future projects and focus areas, and discover innovation enablers and pathways to resources that can benefit you in your future roles in the Force. 

Weekly Webinar Series

  • AFVentures is hosting weekly webinars, every Thursday at noon EST/EDT, to educate, inform and answer any questions you may have about the AFVentures Open and Specific Topic processes. Tune in each week to learn more and ask your questions.

Register For Webinars Here
 
AFWERX Events

  • Colliders, Challenges, SBIR/STTR Roadshows and Tech Warrior events.  Check out the events section on our site for dates and opportunities for companies to showcase their ideas/tech/solutions to government customers.